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It has been thirty-five
years since Tracey "Africa"
Norman has received a
modeling contract. She
first modeled for Clairol
in the late 1970s but her
career ended abruptly when she was discovered
to be transgender. Now, Proctor & Gamble
Co. has decided to re-sign Norman, 64 years
old, to promote its Clairol Nice'n Easy brand
through its new "Color As Real As You Are"
ad campaign which will commence in January
2017. "It has been truly vindicating and
groundbreaking for the beauty industry and
the first black openly transgender model," says
Norman.
LEGAL ISSUES
Diversity in the modern workplace is a fact
of everyday life – just as it is in our community
at large. Yet, as in Norman's case, it hasn't
always been this way and we are certainly not
at a stopping point. is year a federal judge
in Michigan ruled in favor of a Detroit-based
funeral home that fired a transgender employee
due to her gender identity. U.S. District Court
Judge Sean Cox ruled that the Religious
Freedom Restoration Act (RFRA) could
be used as a defense in a sex discrimination
claim under Title VII -- exempting the
employer from Title VII's non-discrimination
requirements.
For employers in the mortgage industry,
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"We serve a diverse population in the
mortgage industry. The goal is to build
a foundation in policies and, sometimes,
legislation that will shape and provide the
opportunity for an inclusive environment."